The best relationship education curriculum in the world can’t compete with a flooded nervous system. Participants often arrive carrying trauma, chronic stress, or the ordinary anxiety of a hard week. Their brains are often running in survival mode, which makes it biologically difficult to absorb new relational skills. And what happens when you, the facilitator, walk into the room carrying the same load? This webinar explores the intersection of neuroscience and relationship education, and why foundational mental well-being tools must come first. We’ll dig into the science behind the Dibble program, Mind Matters. Understanding your participants’ and your own capacity to self-regulate increases everyone’s capacity to connect. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the neurological “why” behind trauma-informed care, along with practical tools you can share with participants and use yourself. Key Takeaways: The Science of Receptivity. What actually happens in a flooded brain, and why stress blocks learning, teaching, and empathy…
Stress
People who support young people bring deep care, commitment, and skill to their work—but they are still human. Under stress, even the most thoughtful facilitators, educators, counselors, and helping professionals can become reactive, shut down, over-accommodate, or lose access to the very relationship skills they most want to model. In this practical and compassionate webinar, The Dibble Institute and Dovetail Learning will explore what happens when caring people get stuck. Participants will be introduced to Dovetail’s concept of Protective Patterns—common ways people react when they feel overwhelmed, vulnerable, or under pressure—and will consider how those patterns affect communication, conflict, and connection with colleagues, partners, and the young people they serve. Together, we’ll explore how curiosity can help interrupt unhelpful patterns and create more space for resilience, reflection, and repair. Participants will leave with practical tools they can use right away to strengthen relationships, navigate difficult moments, and support healthier interactions…
For years, Mind Matters has helped teens and adults do some of the hardest, most important work of their lives — building resilience, managing stress, and learning to treat themselves with compassion. We’ve seen what’s possible when people have the right tools and the right support. Now, we’re proud to introduce Mind Matters 2.0: A Map for Thriving — a fully updated curriculum grounded in the latest neuroscience and trauma-informed care, and we want you to see it up close. Join us for a live webinar with the author of Mind Matters, Carolyn Curtis, Ph.D., and Aaron Larson, Director of Programs, as they walk through the updated curriculum and show you what’s new, what’s deeper, and what’s possible for the people you serve. You’ll get a firsthand look at: New content in every lesson, reflecting current research on how the brain heals and grows A brand-new Lesson 6 — dedicated entirely to self-compassion and resilience New digital…
Mind Matters An Intervention for Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Youth across the nation are dealing with trauma and toxic stress like never before. Many times, their response is to act out or to start using. Parents, teachers, peers, family members, and the community can be frustrated by these behaviors and respond in negative ways, which can make matters worse. How can we help our young people make healthy decisions that are not based on emotional dysregulation or a response to trauma? We can educate them to recognize and regulate their emotions! This is currently being done in Gila County Arizona with the evidence-based program, Mind Matters. Arizona Youth Partnership is currently using Mind Matters in their Diversion Program, funded by Governor’s Office of Youth Faith and Families, in Gila County, Arizona schools. Students are referred to the Diversion Program who are at risk for substance issues based on excessive absences from…
Helping Healers Heal by Completing the Stress Cycle Why do we as youth development professionals often feel stuck? Attend this webinar to learn skills to move through the entire stress cycle rather than being stuck in tension, which can cause harm to the mind and body over time. Practicing evidence-based techniques will help you truly relax and then reenergize, so you can be grounded and present for the youth you support. Techniques learned can also be taught to youth to build resilience. The Team at “IN WITH OUT” provides meaningful experiences that foster reflection, create connections, and inspire action. Through the process of Reflection (In), Connection (With), and Action (Out), we support providers in finding and sustaining wellness so that they can more effectively support others. Objectives: Participants will be able to understand: Understand the neurobiology of stress. Learn and practice several evidence-based strategies to complete the stress cycle. Discuss how…
The State of Youth Relationship Education Today Relationship education has moved from being an unfamiliar and unrecognized intervention to being an appreciated and effective intervention that can pull many levers in young people’s lives. We know from research that it can change sexual behaviors, reduce violence and the acceptance of violence. And, most recently, we see that relationship education can help build hope. Join Executive Director, Kay Reed, to learn about the current landscape for the field of relationship education. She will share new research outcomes, innovative funding streams and settings, along with challenges and opportunities for the field. Objectives: Participants will be able to: List outcomes that result from evidence-based relationship education. Target new state and federal funding to support relationship education programming. Share current challenges and opportunities for the field Presenter: Kay Reed, Executive Director Resources: January 2024 Webinar Slide Deck
The University of Louisville, Center for Family and Community Wellbeing study found that Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Increasing Resilience significantly reduced Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms and increased trauma coping skills. What makes Mind Matters so effective? In this webinar author Carolyn Curtis reviews the research behind Mind Matters’ effectiveness. She discusses the program’s theory of change as well as the individual lessons that bring results. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Understand what the University of Louisville study results say about the effectiveness of Mind Matters. Explain the theories used in Mind Matters. Describe the research behind the Mind Matters Pinwheel Curls. Presenter: Carolyn Curtis, Ph.D., Author of Mind Matters Who should attend: People who work with youth-in-care, community based organizations who work with youth in challenging circumstances, those who help people heal from trauma, organizations that focus on dating and interpersonal violence, adolescent group facilitators, secondary educators, state and federal…
Join Sarah Halpern-Meekin, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, and of Public Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Madison, to learn about the concept of on-again and off-again relationships known as “Relationship Churning.” Join her as she discusses the frequency of relationship churning among young adults and parents, explains the associated predictors, and reflects on how practitioners can recognize them, including implications for their work. Webinar Participants will be able to: Explain what a churning relationship is Explain the frequency of and factors associated with churning relationships Reflect on the implications of churning relationships for practice Presenters: Sarah Halpern-Meekin, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison Resources: Relationship Churning Slide Deck + Research The book referenced during the webinar is: Dailey, R. M. (2019). On-again, off-again relationships: Navigating (in) stability in romantic relationships. Cambridge University Press.
In today’s uncertain times, many youth experience housing insecurity, unstable or unsafe relationships, and toxic stress. Social and emotional wellbeing can help these young people overcome adversity, heal from trauma, and build resilience, thereby increasing their hopes for the future. Learning and practicing mindfulness skills can be the pathway to increasing self-regulation, building healthy relationships, and increasing resilience. The question is how can youth move towards social and emotional wellbeing? During this webinar, we will explore some of the social-emotional needs of youth and how the Milestone Transitional Living Program in Utah utilizes mindfulness skills and the Mind Matters program in group sessions and in group homes. Join Mina Koplin, Lorri Lake, and Maygan Martinez as they share how they utilize the ACEs questionnaire, how they present Mind Matters content, and how they implement mindfulness skills in sessions with disconnected youth. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Identify the Social-Emotional needs…
In response to the multiple stresses on teens from COVID, The Dibble Institute is pleased to announce its latest project, Me & My Emotions, a fun, free, interactive website for teens. Me & My Emotions is designed to support teens’ social-emotional learning while increasing their resilience. With engaging graphics and bite-sized lessons plus awards and points, Me & My Emotions invites teens to slow down and check in with themselves as they learn skills from Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience. Join Kay Reed to explore the research from the ArtCenter College of Design that helped create Me & My Emotions and enjoy a guided tour of the website. Objectives: Webinar participants will understand: Who Me & My Emotions will benefit and ways to promote it How the website is organized and what content is covered How Me & My Emotions can support teens individually as well as in…
In this webinar, Dr. Heidi Rueda will discuss the implementation and pilot evaluation of Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience among middle- and high-school youth attending an after-school program in one of the most impoverished areas of San Antonio, Texas. She will be joined by two former and one current graduate students. Youth participated in the curriculum just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created a unique opportunity to assess their perceptions in person immediately following its implementation, and by phone three months later when they were not able attend school or the after-school program. Objectives: Webinar participants will be able to: Describe the population, program contexts, and evaluation study that was conducted. Explore youth’s perspectives of the program, including what they learned during the program and skills they continued to utilize during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore practitioners’ perspectives of the program, including potential adaptations for Hispanic middle- and high-school…
In these challenging times, many youth are dealing with isolation, anxiety, and depression and relationship challenges. Everyone is looking for a way to connect. Many wonder, how do we do this safely and in a healthy way? We know that when we are unaware of what is happening with our bodies and brains, then we are more likely to make risky decisions. Providing information that youth will hear and use starts with providing mindfulness skills that help them to calm their brains, be in touch with what is going on in their bodies, and build resilience. These mindfulness skills are relevant, empowering, and easy to make a part of everyday life. When implemented, people find they are more likely to grow in social and emotional regulation, make more informed decisions, and see brighter futures. Join Dixie Zittlow as we discuss how healthy decision-making is achievable by bringing awareness to what…
WEBINAR: Co-Regulation Strategies: Practical Tools for Program Staff to Foster Youth Self-Regulation
What is co-regulation? Why does it matter? How can I integrate co-regulation into my program or practice? Join interventionist and nurse-educator Aly Frei to explore co-regulation, its importance for youth development, and its potential to improve program outcomes. Co-regulation is a term that helps describe the important interactions between adults and young people that foster youth self-regulation. Self-Regulation is a central ingredient in lifelong success, predicting healthy relationships, economic self-sufficiency, and physical and emotional well-being. Because of rapid change in youths’ brains and bodies, adolescence is an important time for adults to promote self-regulation development. Through co-regulation, adults form relationships where youth feel cared for and known; co-create safe and nurturing environments; and give youth opportunities to practice self-regulation skills and reflect on how to apply them in their lives. Integrating co-regulation strategies into youth service delivery is a promising approach for improving program implementation and youth outcomes. Objectives: Webinar…
The pandemic has created tremendous disruption across all institutions. Chances are your organization innovated its approach in ways you might want to keep and it is likely the post-pandemic future will not look like the past. Scenario tools can amplify diverse voices and help organizations and communities envision multiple futures in times of uncertainty. Scenario tools surface risks and opportunities to guide the adaptation of programs and operations. This session will teach practitioners the basics of scenario planning and provide a tool to guide responsive planning during times of rapid change. Objectives: Webinar participants will learn: How to compose a scenario planning team to ensure all voices are heard and benefit from many perspectives. How to use a scenario planning tool to surface key uncertainties and possible futures. How to embed scenario planning as a skill to enhance organizational nimbleness. Presenters: Sarah Di Troia, Senior Advisor, Project Evident Resources: Slides Presentation Scenario…
Young people who have experienced trauma and toxic stress, such as child abuse and neglect, often have difficulty regulating their emotional responses when facing challenges in school, life, and relationships. Thus, Dr. Carolyn Curtis developed Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience, a research-based curriculum effective in helping youth overcome adverse and traumatic childhood experiences. In this webinar, Dr. Carolyn Curtis, will discuss her new addendum to the Mind Matters curriculum. In this guidance, the content of Mind Mattersis divided into 15- to 20-minute segments that can now be taught in one-on-one settings. With these adjustments, the Mind Matters curriculum can now be used for home visitors, mentors, and case workers, as well as anyone who works with young people in a one-on-one setting. Join us in this informative and interactive webinar as we learn about the new, additional approach at implementing the Mind Matters program! Presenter: Carolyn Rich Curtis, Ph.D., Developer of Mind Matters, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Founder of the…
David Murphey, Ph.D., research fellow and DataBank director at Child Trends, will review the science of childhood trauma, and the prevalence of childhood experiences that can create it. Trauma, or toxic stress, can have lasting harmful effects on multiple body-systems, affecting lifetime health and well-being. Drawing on recently released data collected nationwide, the presentation will highlight implications for those who work with children and families, or on their behalf. Learning objectives: Identify some of the adverse childhood experiences (“ACEs”) that can create toxic stress Understand the overall prevalence of ACEs, as well as how that varies according to type of ACE, region of the country, and race/Hispanic origin. Identify some strategies that can reduce the negative impacts of ACEs Presenter: Dr. David Murphey, PhD, Research Fellow and Director of Child Trends DataBank Resources: ACES Brief